Examining the Role of Parental Occupations in Shaping Students’ Academic Performance at the Secondary Level
Keywords:
parental occupations, academic achievement, socio-economic factors, cultural influence, family dynamics, educational equityAbstract
This study investigates how parental occupations influence the academic performance of secondary school students. The study was correlational and quantitative. The students of the 10th grade were randomly selected from Male Public Secondary Schools in Tehsil Muzaffargarh District Dera Ghazi Khan. The sample was 340 male Rural and Urban Public Secondary School students. Fathers’ occupations were found to explain 11.9% of the variation in students’ achievement (β = .345), while mothers’ occupations accounted for 7.0% (β = .265). Fathers played a slightly more prominent role, often contributing through socio-economic stability, while mothers significantly shaped emotional and cultural support. The study also highlights how evolving work trends, like remote work and gig economies, are reshaping family dynamics and educational support. Recommendations include creating flexible parental engagement opportunities, fostering socio-cultural development for students, and implementing family-friendly policies to promote educational equity.
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